Manufacturing sales down in January: StatsCan

Statistics Canada says manufacturing sales declined 0.9 percent to $49.6 billion in January, the second decrease in seven months.

The agency blames the decline on a one-third drop in the aerospace product and parts industry, as well as lower sales in the primary metals, machinery and other transportation equipment industries.

Excluding aerospace, sales were virtually unchanged from December.

Sales decreased in 11 of 21 industries representing approximately 44 percent of manufacturing.

Sales of durable goods fell 2.4 percent, while sales of non-durable goods rose 0.6 percent.

In constant dollar terms, manufacturing sales fell 1.1 percent in January, the first drop in three months.

Production in the aerospace product and parts industry fell 34 percent to $913 million in January, the third decrease in four months.

Manufacturing sales in the primary metal industry slipped 3.5 percent to $4.1 billion.

In January, machinery manufacturers reported a 4.5 percent decline in sales to $3 billion, a second consecutive monthly decline.

Higher sales in the motor vehicle and parts industries offset a portion of the overall decline in manufacturing in January.

Sales in the auto assembly industry rose 2.6 percent to $4.5 billion, the seventh consecutive month of increases. January sales hit the highest level since November 2007.

Sales in the industry have grown 37.4 percent since June 2011, the most recent low.

Overall manufacturing sales declined in five provinces in January, with Quebec posting the largest decrease in dollar terms.